[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 36 (Tuesday, March 4, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E289]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            TRIBUTE TO JUDGE JOSE FRANCISCO ``FRANK'' TORRES

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TOM UDALL

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 4, 2008

   Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
life of Judge Jose Francisco ``Frank'' Torres, a native of southern 
Colorado and until his passing a resident of the 3rd Congressional 
District of New Mexico.
   Judge Frank Torres was a crusader for civil rights who upon 
retirement lived in New Mexico, the home of his ancestors, for 21 
years. He was descended from the original Spanish colonists that 
arrived with General Juan De Onate in 1598 to establish the first 
European settlement in the United States. He was married to Crusita 
Kimball Torres, who was a descendant of the first territorial Governor 
of New Mexico. His daughter, Eva Torres Ashenbrenner, is my 
constituent, renowned for her involvement in the community and for her 
love and commitment to New Mexico and its cultural heritage. She 
continues her father's tradition of community involvement and public 
service.
   Judge Torres practiced and taught good citizenship throughout his 
life and brought the highest moral values and standards not only to 
each position he occupied, but to his private life as well.
   Judge Torres was an accomplished man who despite adversity became 
one of the first Hispanic attorneys in Colorado. Among his many 
accomplishments, Judge Torres strongly opposed the activities of the Ku 
Klux Klan, organized the first credit unions in southern Colorado in 
1938, and was actively involved in the Boy Scouts of America for some 
70 years, earning its highest honors ``the silver beaver award,'' for 
his leading of Troops and service on the Boy Scouts Regional Council. 
Also, during the Depression years Judge Torres organized and directed a 
charitable homeless persons shelter in Trinidad, Colorado, which was 
one of the earliest efforts in the region.
   He provided strong and equal legal representation to everyone, 
including those too poor to afford legal representation. He worked to 
secure the rights and interests of the elderly poor and defended the 
Alianza Hispano Americana in legal cases brought by the State of 
Arizona to take control of that organization.
   Judge Torres organized and was elected president of the Colorado 
Spanish American Club, served as president of the Colorado State Board 
of credit unions, was elected vice-president of the Colorado Young 
Democrats, and worked as legal counsel to the Las Animas County 
Catholic Church's Knights of Columbus, representing them at national 
conventions.
   Judge Torres was well known in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and befriended 
notable New Mexican historians such as Fray Angelico Chavez and Orlando 
Romero and other notable figures such as Raphael Chacon, Casimire 
Barela, Elfego Baca, and former Congressman Bronson Cutting.
   Madam Speaker, Frank Torres was a crusader during his time as an 
attorney and judge, and it is fitting that he is honored for his great 
work and service to the people of Colorado and New Mexico.

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